Improved bed-bottom



UNITED STATES` rrr I PATENT,

"ABNER HITCHCOCK, OF WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVED BED-BOTTOM.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,545, dated May 8, 1866.

ence marked thereon.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a plan of the improved bed. Fig. 2 is a secu tional plan, showing1 the arrangement of the springs and the supporting-wires of the bed. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the axis of the bed.

This invention relates, first, to the arrangement of the spiral springs for supporting the bed and the transverse and longitudinal `wires and the spiral springs by means of which they are connected with the supporting-frame; also, the arrangement and construction of the frame which supports and connects the whole arrangement of springs and wires.

This invention furthermore relates to a water-proof covering which is spread over the i up or down within the frame A. The pieces of timber of which this latter frame are constructed should be much smaller than those used in the construction of the frame A, and should be strongly framed together at the corners.

G are longitudinal beams, fitted into the bottom edge ot' t-he frame A in such a manner as to prevent any longitudinal or lateral motion between these parts. These beams may be connected with the frame A by means of the hooks a or some other equivalent means, whereby the parts may be easily disunited and the beams removed. A staple, for in stance, might be attached to the frameA and extend down through a mortise in the beam, which could then be secured to it by means of a pin or key driven through the staple. The hooks c might be placed outside of the frame A, and in this position would possibly be more out of the way of the vertical motion of the frame B, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

There are spiralsprings Derected upon the 4beams C at regular intervals. These springs should be conical in form, and are not unlike, either 1n form, construction, or operation, those used in ordinary upholstery. There are also 'small spiral springs D attached to the side and end pieces of the frame B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the wires E, drawn tightly from one of the springs D to another of thesame set on the opposite side of the frame, will pass directly over theapices of the cone-springs D, into which they should be woven to serve the purposeV of guides or stays. The wires E cross the frame B in both directions, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The intersections of the wires E may be fastened rigidly to the conesprings, so that this point can only have a vertical motion, or the spiral spring D may be constructed so as to overlapthe two wires E and yield in the direction of either side or end. This latter construction may be found to be preferable as affording an increased amount of elasticity.

The frame B, resting only on the springs D, will yield readily to the slightest pressure upon y it, and will slide easily up or down within the frame A. v

A mattress, F, of very light construction may be used on top of the net-work formed of the wires E. This mattress may be made much lighter than those usually employed on springbeds, as the wires E will not present a` hard substance which can be felt through the mattress, likethe wooden pieces now in common use. A Water-proof covering,l G, is covered over the mattress and attached to the frame A by means of the tacks c or other equivalent means. Button -holes may be worked in the edge of this covering to hook over the hooks or tacks'c, or the connection may be made in many other ways which will allow the covering to be removed at pleasure. The use of this covering will be to protect the mattress from soil in the case of obstetrframes A and B, Jche springs D and D', the cal operations or nursery-beds. It may be beams C, and. the cross-wires E, substantially formed of india-rubber 010th, oi1e1oth, or` any as and for the purpose set forth. other Water-proof fabric. ABNER HITCHCOCK.

Having described my invention, what I claim iso The combination and arrangement of the Witnesses l M. RANDOLPH, S. M. RANDOLPH. 

